Aug 9 2012 (Garowe Online) -Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali
Gaas reportedly have not seen eye to eye lately as both politicians have
announced they are running for President.
The TFG under President Sharif for most of its tenure was a government
barely controlling any districts in Mogadishu but since Al Shabaab’s exit of
Mogadishu last year, the city has seen significant advancement in terms of
security and development, albeit it still has a great deal to go.
Prime Minister Gaas who was appointed last year played an
intricate role with the support of quasi-independent regions in turning the
Somalia political process into an all inclusive federal states’ process.
President Sharif and his PM Gaas to a large number of
Mogadishu residents have been a dynamic force – hero like after both survived assassination
attempts - that has given the war-torn capital some hope.
Despite setbacks and accusations of corruption, the TFG with
the support of other regions such as Puntland, Galmudug and Ahlu Sunnah group
have ratified a constitution and are less than two weeks away from a permanent government.
However, things are changing for the super hero tandem as
elections draw close, according to inside sources the beef between the two
could threaten the political process. Although highly unlikely because of the huge
amount of resources and time invested in ending this political process on
schedule.
Prime Minister Gaas publicly announced on Tuesday that he is
running for President of Somalia as the transitional government will come to an
end August 20th.
According to inside sources after his announcement,
President Sharif was distraught at his Prime Minister’s decision to run for
office.
Unconfirmed reports say that President Sharif and Prime
Minister Gaas met with officials from the international community on Wednesday
for hours, to discuss an unprecedented move by President Sharif to reshuffle
the TFG at this critical juncture.
Even though there are 11 days left in the current government,
the move by President Sharif would have dismissed Prime Minister Gaas and many
other top officials of their positions.
At the Nairobi meeting earlier this week President Sharif
walked out of the talks between signatories reportedly annoyed by Puntland
President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole and Prime Minister Gaas’ delay.
According to inside sources, President Sharif was upset the
two leaders met alone and had delayed the signatories meeting for thirty
minutes.
Sources close to Prime Minister Gaas said that President
Sharif was also made evident of the fact that his Prime Minister was running
for Presidency leading up to the Nairobi meeting earlier this week, a popular
rumor circulating for months which was unconfirmed until Tuesday.
A popular Prime Minister, Gaas is a worthy contender for the
Presidency which could threaten President Sharif’s chances of making a return.
The two candidates along with Speaker of Parliament Sharif
Hassan Sharif Adan and former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo are
among the most experienced, however there political CV’s have been blemished by
a report by the Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group which accused the politicians
of different scales of corruption while in office.
The report which was leaked very close to the presidential
elections will have an indeterminate impact on the presidential elections.
As the dynamic duo will divorce in 11 days it will be
extremely exciting to watch as a new Somali President will emerge.
GAROWE ONLINE
